A twist on the age-old quandary of art imitating life and lifeimitating art takes the stage at Ball State's Edward S. StrotherStudio Theater Sept. 16-19 and 21-25.
The Ball State Department of Theatre and Dance presents "TheShape of Things," directed by Judy Yordon. The play, aimed atmature audiences, explores art, censorship, sex and relationshipsvia a cast of four main characters, played by Jeb Burris, ShannonBracken, Peter Hawn, and Carley Cornelius.
Two of the issues presented in the play are how far is too farwhen using art as a means to imitate life and where the linebetween innocent suggestion and emotional tampering is crossed.
Director Judy Yordon said the show moves like a train gainingspeed.
"It begins slowly and then gains energy and dynamism from theinterrelationships among the four characters," Yordon said. "Theaudience is taken on a ride that jolts them at the end."
Yordon is a George and Frances Ball Distinguished Professor ofPerformance Studies and established the faculty/student performancehour, which takes place each fall semester. Yordon alsooccasionally acts, and will appear in "The Philadelphia Story" thisspring.
Jeb Burris
Senior Acting major and Digital Media Minor
Plays Adam in "The Shape of Things"
1. Q: Why were you drawn to this play and why did you decide toaudition for it?
A: I initially was drawn to it because I am a huge fan of NeilLabute. I think he is a brilliant playwright and have admired hiswork for some time now. I wanted to audition for the play becauseit was something unlike anything I have done before. Adam is justso different from me and so similar at the same time that thechance to be able to bring that duality to life on stage justseemed like an amazing challenge for me.
2. Q: What is your favorite line or scene from the play?
A: "Anyone can be provocative or shocking. Stand up in class andtake a piss. Paint yourself blue and run naked through a churchscreaming out names of people they've slept with...It doesn'tmatter if you call it art if you have nothing to say..."
That line to me is [a] culmination of emotions for Adam and itis great to see him finally able to speak out and defendhimself.
3. Q: Why are you involved in acting?
A: One of the main things we learn here is to "tell the story."There are so many characters out there that we as actors get tobecome, and there is no greater challenge than that. I've neverthought about changing my major, our department is very supportiveof us and wants to give us the best opportunities possible, andthat is a huge reason as to why I stayed an acting major. Plus, I'mnot really good at math or anything else really, other thanthis.
4: Q: What do you plan to do in the future?
A: I hope that in the future I will be able to do this as acareer, that is, make enough money to support myself. I just wantto be able to do what I love to do and hopefully make some moneydoing it. I plan on moving to either New York, Chicago or LosAngeles. That'll be a gametime decision.
5. Q: What do you like or dislike about the character you'replaying in "The Shape of Things"?
A: Adam is such a complex character. He undergoes so manychanges both internally and externally that it's hard to pin pointexactly what I love/hate about him. He is so lovable andvulnerable, and at the same time, makes mistakes just like anyoneelse. That's the beauty of this play, all of the characters are solifelike, its easy to get lost in their stories.
Peter Hawn
Junior Theatre major
Phil in "The Shape of Things"
1. Q: Why were you drawn to this play and why did you decide toaudition for it?
A: I read the play before I auditioned for it and I loved theplay right away. I was amazed by the different characters and therelationships between them. I decided to audition for this playbecause I loved the characters, especially Phil, and also the plotof this play.
2. Q: What is your favorite line or scene from the play?
A: My favorite scene is scene seven because it is the scenewhere Phillip shows the biggest changes. The audience is able tosee the different sides of Phillip and are able to see therelationship between him and Adam.
3. Q: Why are you involved in acting?
A: I started to act because of my family. I have actedthroughout high school and I decided that I could not see myselfdoing anything for the rest of my life. I love acting. In the wordsof Oscar Wilde, "I love acting. It is so much more real thanlife."
4: Q: What do you plan to do in the future?
A: After another year of college at Ball State Universtiy, Iwill move to L.A. or N.Y. and spend the rest of my life doing whatI love, or become a waiter trying.
5. Q: What do you like or dislike about the character you'replaying in "The Shape of Things"?
A: I love my character. Phil is everything that I am not. Hesays the things that I wish I could say and he does the things thatI wish I could do. People may look at Phil and decide that he is aso-called prick, but I feel the exact opposite. Everybody knowssomebody like this character and can often relate with Phil. Idon't think that there is anything that I dislike aboutPhillip.
Shannon Bracken
Senior theatre major with acting option
Jenny in "The Shape of Things"
1. Q: Why were you drawn to this play and why did you decide toaudition for it?
A: I was drawn to "The Shape of Things" because they are allcharacters that I'm sure people can relate to [in] one way oranother. It's a "real" show by encompassing the intimacy ofeveryday life. It teaches a very valuable lesson on the obsessionwith our looks and the surface of things.
2. Q: What is your favorite line or scene from the play?
A: Well, all the scenes are really fantastic. The park scenewith my character, Jenny, and Jeb's character, Adam, is reallypivotal to the show. We see a sense of comfort for the first timein Jenny. They truly love each other, but these feelings come outand create a very interesting plot twist.
3. Q: Why are you involved in acting?
A: I think I've always been an actor, ha. Ever since I was akid. Ellen Burstyn once said, "Our work is much more dangerous thaneven that of an astronaut because we relive other people's pain." Iget such an amazing rush when stepping out of myself and becomingsomeone else. Asking an audience to leave their lives behind for afew hours and just feel, no matter what the feeling, excitement,anger, fear etc. is such a brilliant art form. I'm so lucky to be apart of that.
4. Q: What do you plan to do in the future?
A: I'm originally from Chicago, so I plan on going back for ayear or so to get my life in order. I hope to get some commercialwork in Chicago and eventually make a move to L.A.
5. Q: What do you like or dislike about the character you'replaying in "The Shape of Things"?
A: I consider myself to be an independent person, openminded,etc. Jenny's not. Ha. It's hard for me to see the way Phil treatsher, how she never speaks up--kinda rolls with the punches. But thewonderful thing about her is that she changes too. She graduallybecomes more confident, upfront and secure with herself as anindependent person.
Carley Cornelius
Sophomore Theatre Major in Acting Option
Evelyn in "The Shape of Things"
1. Q: Why were you drawn to this play and why did you decide toaudition for it?
A: I really like the script. Labute does a great job making thedialogue seem natural and organic. He also always exposes the darkside of a person, their flaws, but somehow make them likeable.
2. Q: What is your favorite line or scene from the play?
A: I really don't have a favorite scene. All of the scenes arebrilliant.
3. Q: Why are you involved in acting?
A: Why do I act? Well, my mom dabbles in a bit of acting, mybrother is at USC to become a film director/editor, and my dad is amusician, so the likelyhood of me becoming a nuclear physicist wasslim to none.
4.Q: Plans for the future?
A: I don't have specific plans for the future--the possiblititesare endless.
5. Q: What do you like or dislike about the character you'replaying in "The Shape of Things"?
A: I really admire Eveyln's passion for her art--she'll go toany length for it. She's a strong, intelligent, sexy woman, andthough she lacks some morals, she fights for what she believes inand puts her heart and soul into her art.
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